Steering gear for motor-propelled vehicles



K. Si. GINGERICK. STEERING GEAR FOR MOTOR IROPELLEDA VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I, 1922- #in errors/ww K. S. GINGERICK.

STEERING GEAR yFOR MOTOR PROPELLED VEHICLES. PPLlcATloN FILED MAY 1. 19'22 1,429,029, PatentedSept. 12, 1922.

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Patented Sept. 12, 1922.

PATENT FFE.

UNITED; STATES KENT S. GINGERICK, OF URBANA, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO RII-1L T. PARRISH, OF DAYTON,

OHIO.

STEERING GEAR FOR MOTOR-PROPELLED VEHTCLES.

Application 1ed` May 1,

T 0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, Kam* S. Giiwennicn, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Urbana, in the county of Champaign and' State of Ohio, have invented certain new an'd'useful Improvements in Steering Gears for Motor-Propelled Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in Steering gears for motor propelled vehicles, and particularly to tractors, and is peculiarly adapted to that type of tractor known as the two way plow tractor.

It is well known'that in motor propelled vehicles, of which the tractor is a type, it is necessary in order to guide the vehicle in a reverse or rearward direction, to throw or turn'the steering wheel inr a' direction opposite to that in which'it is thrown when pro` ceeding in a forward: direction.

It will be readily understood then, t-hat in motor propelled vehicles, and particularly in that type' known as two way plow tractors, in which itis desirable for the operator to face the rear during the rearward movement of the vehicle, it is expedient to adapt or construct a steering gear which will guide the vehicle in the rearward direction with the same relative motions as in the forward direction; In other words, when the vehicle is proceeding in the forward direction and it is desired to turn to the right, the steering wheel is turnedto the right; and shoulda right' turn 4be desirable when proceeding in the rearward direction, my invention'enables this turn to be eifected by turning the steering wheel to the right.

In the accompanying drawings,'Figure 1 is a' side elevational view, partly broken away, of my improved steering device applied to'a tractor of the two way type. Figure 2 is a' partial side elevation and partial section of the same. Figure 3' is a perspective view ofthe handle or lever for operating the eccentric bushings. Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of said bushings. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the indicating or locating flange. And Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the segmental bevel gears.

Throughout the specification and drawings, similar reference characters denote corresponding parts.

ln a detailed description of the form of 19.22. Serial No. 557,526.

embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying' drawings, the numeral 1 designates a tubular steering column which is rotatable in a gear case 2 and a flange 3 bolted te the upper flanged end t of said case. F iXedly attached to the lower end of the tubular steering column 1 is an annular ring 5 which supports the latter by rotating on an annular' shoulder 6 in the upper part of the gear case 2, and prevents an upward movement of said steering column by bearing against the flange 3. (See Figures 3 and 5.)

Firmly secured to the upper end of the steering column 1, is a sleeve 7 to which a forked lever 8 is hingedly secured by means of a pin 9. (See Figures 2 and Clamped on the outside of the tubular steering column 1, which is adapted to be turned by the lever 8, are two split collars 10 and 11 throughvertically disposed holes in the outer ends of which there passes a lock or index pin 12. The upper end of the latter is hooked through a hole in the forked lever 8, and its lower end is adapted to enter one of two holes 13 and 14 in the flange 3'to firinly secure the steering column in one of two operating positions. 'A compression spring l5 encircles the pin 12 between the collar 10 anda shoulderv 16 on said pin to normally hold itin eitherl one of the two holes 13 and 14 after the steering column has been turned by the lever 8. (See Figures 2 and.)A

In the upper and lower ends of the steer- "ing column 1y there are iiXedly secured eccentric bushings 17 and 18 respectively. Through an eccentrically disposed hole 19 in each one of these bushings 17 and 18 there projects a steering shaft 20 free to rotate in said bushings', andto be moved from one operating position to another by them. Secured to the upper end of the shaft 20 is a steering wheel 21, and on its lower end there is fast a bevel pinion 22. (See Figures 2 and 4.)

At its lower end the gear case 2 terminates in a horizontal sleeve portion 23 which contains a bushing 24C in which there rotates a transverse shaft 25. F iXedly secured to the latter inside the gear case 2, are two segmental arms 26 and 27 such as the one shown in Figure 6. Riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the outer periphery of each one of said segmental arms, is a pin 12 is forced'into one Uthe position of the shaft 2O to bringpthel with the bevel pinion 22 when the latter is moved into engagement with it.

When itis desired to operate the tractor "in a direction opposite to that in which it has been ruiming, the driver taires a position behind the steering wheel 21 facing distance to disengage the loclr pin 12 from the flange 3, and then turns said lever to the opposite'side of said flange where the lock of the holes 13 or 14 therein by the spring 15.

When the lever 8 is giventhe turn above described, it will rotate the eccentric bushings 17 and 18 a suflicient distance to move the shaft 2O to a position wherethe pinion 22 on its lower end will engage the 28 on the segmental arm opposite 'that in which it was in engagement.v When the steering wheel 21 is.now turned, it will rotate the shaft 20 tocause the bevel. pinion 22thereyon to actuate the segmental. arm in the direction it should turn the shaft 25 to effect the desired steering movement. lt is thus possible through the turning of the eccentric bushings 17 andy 18 by the lever 8, to shift pinion 22 on its lower end into engagement with the gear 28 on either one of the segmental arms 26 or 27, and thereby to enable the steering wheel-21 to be turned in the ordinary manner byv thel operator behind it,

VVirrespective of 4the direction in whichr the tractor is running.

ofy construction and operation herein shown and described, and any changes or modifica.n

other oi combination with a steering column, ofan tions may bey made therein withinthe scope of the aitjoinea` Claims.

lHaving describedmy4 invention, 'l claim:

-1. In av device ofthe type described, the

combination with a rotatable steering column, of an eccentric member-fast within said column, a steering shaft rotatable in said eccentric kmember and adapted to be moved from one eXtreme position to another by it, a transverse shaft,a pair of'segmen'- tal gearsfixedly secured te said shaft, and-.a pinion secured on the lower end of the steering shaft for engagement withone or the f said segmental gears when theeccentric member. is turnedby the steering column. l v

v2. In a device of thev type described, the

upper ybushing and a lower bushing fiXedly secured therein, each' bushing containing an -on the upper end of that direc-r tion. He then lifts the lever 8 a sufficient lidoy not wish to vbe linriitedV to the details eccentrically disposed lhole therein, a steering shaft projecting loosely through the holes in said bushings, a steering'wheel fast said shaft', av pinion iixedly secured to the lower end of said shaft, a transverse shaft, anda pair ofl segmental Gears secured to the transverse shaft, one of vhich is adapted to be engaged by said pinion when the bushings are turned in one direction and the other one of which is adapted to be engaged by said pinionwhen the bushings are turned in the opposite direction.

3. lnA a device kof the type described,y the combination with al rotatable steering column, of an upper bushing and a lower busliing Xedly secured therein, each bushing containing an eccentrically disposed hole therein, a steering shaft projecting loosely through the holes in said bushings, a steereof ing wheel fast on the. upperv end`of said l V shaft, a pinion fixedly secured to the lower end of said shaft, a transverse shaft, a pair of segmental gears secured to the transverse shaft for alternate engagement by saidpinion, and a lever secured to the steeringcolumn just below the steeringl wheel, for turning said bushings to movethejsteering shaft a sufcient distance to bring the pinion. on its lower end into firm engagement with 'one or the other of said gears, for the purpose specified. y fi:v I

L1. In a device of theltype described, the combination witha rotatable SteeringcOlumn, of'an upper bushing and alowerbushing'fiixedly secured therein, leach bushingl containing an eccentrieally disposed hole, va steering shaftv rprojecting; loosely through saidholes, a steering wheel `fast on the upper end of said shaft, a pinionxedlysecure'd to the lower end of said shaft, -a transverse said'steering column, a leverhingedly 'f secured .to saidy sleeve, -a flangeA through which the lower end of vsai'dsteering column projects., containingl a hole 'fin each sideV thereof,k and afpin whose `upper end is se cured to said lever and whose lower endv is yadapted to enter either'one of` saidA holesin the flangefor the purpose specified.

. In testimony whereof I have hereunto vset my hand this 21st day of April, 1922.-.Ar

` Y Y KENTV S. GNGERIKCK. lWitness I i 5 HOWARD S. vSivrrrnj. 

